Wine lovers' paradise

A glimpse of the legendary wine and epic cuisine in the scenic Napa Valley

Napa Valley, fifty miles north of San Francisco, in USA, attracts oenophiles (wine lovers) from all over to its lush, rolling valleys planted with endless rows of vines. People come here to taste a wide selection of red and white wines, to discover new favourites and stock up on them. The bucolic setting of the farms and wineries and a host of epicurean delights make for a wonderful weekend getaway or even a day trip.

Vineyard Visits
Although many wineries are open daily for tasting, it's wise to make a reservation and explore no more than three to four wineries a day. A visit to a dark, oak-scented, barrel room or cave is a great way to understand the wine making, maturing and storing process. The tasting usually takes place at a bar or terrace with a beautiful setting and the tasting fees are waived when you make a purchase. The wisdom is to abstain from wearing perfume so that the subtle aromas of the wines are not overwhelmed.

Ancient oak trees flanked the uphill drive to Bond, at the venerable Mondavi estate, whose owner was the first to sell wine industrially in the region. A large, glass enclosed terrace, with deep leather sofas and antique rugs overlooked miles of vineyards around us. At a table, in the adjoining open kitchen, we sat across a line-up of several glasses while the knowledgeable sommelier led the tasting as he swirled each glass of red wine, holding it by the stem, releasing the aroma, and inhaling deeply before he sipped. We tried to distinguish the aromas and flavours of the wines which went from light to full-bodied ones. Sizing them up, we decided our favourites were Robert Mondovi Fume Blanc (Kalon Vineyard 2007) and Dalla Valle (Cabernet Sauvignon Maya 2007).

Some of the other noteworthy vineyards in the thirty-mile long Napa stretch are Del Dotto, Clos Pegase Winery, Quintessa and Green Truck Cellars in Stag's Leap region. Although it is the best known wine growing region in America, less than 10% of the country's wine comes from here.